Collecting-contact for electric machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT SCIIMID AND EDVARD C. MEANS, 'OE ALLEGHENY, PENNSYLVANIA; SAID SCHMID ASSIGNORTO THE VESTINGI-IOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY,

OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLECTING-CONTACT FOR ELECTRIC MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,320, dated February 11, 1890.

Application iiledDeeember 7,1889. Serial No. 332,964.. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALBERT SCHMID and EDWARD C. MEANS, 'citizens of the Republic of Switzerland and of the United States, re-

spectively, now residing in Allegheny, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collecting- Contacts for Electric Machines, (Case No. 373,) of which 1o the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the construction of devices for conveying electric currents to or collecting them from the contact-rings of conductors of electric machines.

i 5 The object of the. invention is to secure good electrical connections, and also, when it is desired, extending the surface of the contact over considerable area.

The invention may be generally described zo as consisting in applying a flexible contactband composed of a woven wire or linked belt to the conductor or collector plates; and, further, in providing, where desired, a lubricating substance consisting of plumbago or similar material embedded in the contactbands. The open-work of the band permits rapid radiation of heat., tending to keep the same from becoming unduly heated.

The invention will be more fully described 3o in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-d Figure l is a side view of a collector equipped with three contact-hands, and Eig. 2 is an end view of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are details, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view, of

the band.

Referring to the figures, a a2 a3 represent three contact or collector rings, provided in this instance with three Vbands of woven or linked copper wire b b2 b3, bent over and covering as great an amount of surface of the rings as may be required, in this instance half of the entire circumference. The ends of these bands are held in adjustable clamps c, the tension upon which is maintained by the springs CZ and adjusting devices d. These are suitably supported by the arm D. The remaining ends may be firmly held in clamps carried by the arm D2 upon the opposite side of the shaft of the machine.

For the purpose of reducing the friction, which might otherwise be objectionable, the interstices of the linked collecting-bands may be filled with plumbago or other suitable lubricating material, preferably a conductor of electricity.

IVe claim as our inventionm l. A collecting-band for electric machines, consisting of a band or strip of linked or woven wire, substantially as described.

2. A collector or contact band for electric machines, consisting of a band or belt of linked. or meshed Wires and having its interstces filled with plumbago or hard carbon, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names this 5th day of December, A. D. 188). f

ALBERT SCHMID. EDWARD C. MEANS.

Witnesses:

J. M. TATE, Jr., J. W. SMITH. 

